UNDER THE KNIFE

$15 Billion a Year

While that number may resemble an oil sultan's income, it is in fact the amount of money spent in America alone last year for cosmetic or aesthetic surgeries. That's a lot of money to spend in an effort to turn back the clock or fix a perception. Plastic surgery, both reconstructive and cosmetic or aesthetic, has become a very common solution to a wide variety of physical and psychological issues being addressed by men and women today. It is well documented that one's body image, or perception of how one looks, very often rules one's life - inwardly and outwardly, directly and indirectly.

That Job May Depend Upon It

What is becoming more and more evident these days is the need to be beautiful in order to ensure job security or to "get that dream job". Prospective employers are more inclined to hire the beautiful person who is pleasant to look at over the one who is less lovely, even though the qualifications are equal or even sometimes better in the less-lovely person. People with great self-image tend to exude confidence and function very effectively in their work. They are more popular and people are drawn to their confidence and persona. While self-image definitely has other components, one of the most important is appearance. In a world where first impressions are critical to financial success in the workplace, maintaining the edge becomes vital. Enhancing one's physical appearance has been shown to improve self-image, often by very large margins.

So, What's This Going To Cost?

The truth of the matter is that the cost for surgery varies from patient to patient and before anything is done, a consultation with the surgeon is mandatory. This consultation can cost anywhere from $100 to $250, and generally is not deducted from the actual procedure. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery advises that it is wise to use a Board Certified surgeon to ensure safety and ethics in practice. Sounds like good advice. The most frequent surgeries are breast implants and rhinoplasties (nose jobs), with face lifts and eyebrow lifts coming up close behind.

A nose job can be had for between $4,000 and $6,000 and you can change the look for your entire face and neck for a mere $6,000 to $9,000. If you want to augment your lips, change your cheeks or add a chin, it's all available to you for between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the work you want done. Breast implants are available for between $3,000 and $5,000.

Worth It? - Your Call

None of us wants to be judged negatively on our appearance. There is incredible pressure today in many areas to not only perform but to perform "beautifully". With Boomers fighting aging with every breath and young people having access to financial resources which enables them to take advantage of cosmetic surgery, it would appear this is one place where business will remain steady for years to come.